Cut Off - No Way Out?

Flooded in - four directions. No way out! Unless you have a canoe, paddle and waiting relatives lined up.

As seasoned North Queenslanders we've been watching the weather
forecasts very carefully. We take flooding at this time of year for granted.

This
morning we drove our which-roads-are-blocked-pilgrimage and were
lucky to meet up with some locals. Lucky, because most of our neighbours are
now being cut off and soon we'll only be touch via phone and facebook.

The locals we met were waiting with their vehicles,
blocked at a river crossing on the road to Jumbun. We watched
a canoe on the other side of the road paddle towards us - it was one of those classic moments you
just have to photograph.

We had a yarn about the bridges being planned for
Cassowary Coast and agreed this
regularly flooded spot in Murray Upper would surely be a contender.

At this time of year rainfall is
on our minds, and our facebook status statements are full of comments from locals keeping a watchful eye on how
heavy the rain will be,
and sharing up-to-date information and links.

We have reason to be concerned because even though a cyclone is not heading directly for
us we know the outcome is torrential rain everywhere. We know
rain is on the way and we like to know how much, when and where.

We know by tracking it on our favourite sites; ABC Local Radio,Oz
Cyclone Chasers, NQ Flooding
update and
of course BOM (Bureau of Meteorology).

Before it begins to flood we do the following:

Stock up on food and
supplies (that was a couple of days ago and any local down at the supermarket
lines knew it, non locals were bemused, obviously not realising what was on the
way)

Realise the best laid
plans are about to go up the river

Make sure our cameras
are poised to share our version of the flood with our friends similarly
marooned on line

Dissect the weather with
our mates

Keep checking the
weather sites

A major aftermath of flooding can be the shortages of essential items in the supermarket and until the trucks can make it through; it can take a couple of weeks before the shelves are restocked.

The rain is hammering down and I
wonder: what are my friends and neighbours up to right now?

I've heard through the facebook vine: they have been
beanbag floating in their flooded duck ponds, getting their boats ready (but to
go where?) and taking and then uploading their images and thoughts on the
flood.

Once you are in the midst of flooding the general idea is
to have fun, keep safe, and via the internet work out and observe when those water levels
will go down to safely let you out!

Today we've been amazed. This is the biggest flooding at
Murray Upper since we've lived here. The creeks and river are overflowing
everywhere in a way we've not witnessed before. The Murray Falls would be
brilliant if you could safely make it there.

A few of the children, including my own, are really
disappointed that a planned cartooning workshop at the library has had to be cancelled,
because the weather has made sure no one can make it.

Perhaps it's time to cartoon rain, boats, happy people
arriving home and a runaway parking
sign like
the one I saw going up river just a couple of hours ago.

5
Comments

June Perkins

Thanks Lisa, Jo, Michael, and Brad, The water levels are going down, however, this morning there was a big tree that fell down next door, softened by rain, wind and possible prior cyclone damage - it made us jump. Yes, Michael, creating is the thing to do, time to make some more videos! One member of the family has composed some music, and played it to us too.

Michael

And it keeps on raining. Good day to be inside watching a movie, listening to music or creating something.

Lisa

Good luck with everything over the coming weeks and stay dry(ish)!

Brad Marsellos

I hope you don't run out of food June! Keep us in the loop of how you are and be safe!

Jo

I used to love getting cut off when I lived with my family on the farm. Rain was about the only time we had lazy days. Stay safe June. Love the parking sign.